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Esoteric Door Knockers & Door Handles


"QUANTUM SHOT" #885
Link - article by Avi Abrams



Knock Three Times: Esoteric Door Knockers & Door Handles

Some of these architectural and historic artefacts can be truly elaborate works of art, some possess hidden (arcane, esoteric) meaning, which often has to do with spiritual passages, or opening of magical doorways in the otherwise un-yeilding and uncaring world. Today we are going to see the most interesting, ornate, unexpected ones - send us more examples of these fascinating objects that you found around of world.

Here is a couple of fascinating finds: first, a door knocker from Cairo, Egypt, c. 1880 (left image) - and a beautiful esoteric design from House of Shambala in Lhasa, Tibet:


(images via 1, 2)


Dragons door "guardians" remain the most popular designs throught history: on the left is a pair of door handles from Northern Mesopotamia, early 13th century; in the middle you can see the dragon door knocker at Pownall Hall, near Manchester - and on the right is contemporary piece created by the Metallic Garden company:


(images via 1, Rob McCrorie, 3)


This vintage Greek door knocker features the Seal of Solomon in its somewhat enigmatic and unusual design:


(images via 1, 2)

On the right (see above) is the Knight's Templar door knocker from England... and a beautiful, unique lion head cast iron notary seal and stamp press embosser (not related to doors, but too interesting to omit - perhaps a preview of our upcoming "stamp press" coverage).

These cast brass cherubs give off a happy, positive vibe:


(image via)


Pixies - and Jennifer Connnely approaching the forbidding door guardians in the "Labyrinth" movie:


(left image via)


Gargoyle door knockers, with a mischievous goblin face:


(images via 1, 2)


Playing a violin...


(image via)


Nautical decor remains quite popular with door handle designers: on the left is a solid brass seahorse and Maltese cross door knocker... you can also see a crab-themed dinner bell claw on the bottom left:


(images via 1, 2)


This large brass carp handle is pretty heavy to lft:


(image via)


Cast iron "Rococo" period door knocker can be seen on the left; while the sinister snakes and even the Medusa's head guard the doors on the right:


(images via 1, 2, Dauvit Alexander)


A child on a swing (MacKenzie-Childs: Cast Iron Door Knocker), and a witch on her broom...


(left image via; image credit: Charles Vess)


Some of the "weird & wonderful" door knockers MUST include squids, considering this marine animal's bizarre reputation:


(left image via, right image credit: Arnim Schulz)

On the right image above we also see a snail, found in Barcelona inside the incredible Cases dels Cargols.

Snakes... and more snails:


(originals unknown)


We saved the best, most beautiful designs for last!

On the left is beautiful filigree rococo design, seen in Paris... middle image shows the wrought iron handle from "Casa Calvet" (by Gaudi)... and on the right is the exquisite piece by Martin Pearce, set in walnut and cherry wood doors, a true "door handle masterpiece":


(image credit: 1, 2, 3)


A kiss, a fleeting bliss and passing pleasure... on the right you see a "flying angel" handle designed by Danish artist Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen, 1904, in Ribe Cathedral, Denmark:


(right image via)


First, the "Eternal Love" door knocker (Amor Eterno), seen in Rome (left image)... on the right is perhaps the most sensual door handle of all, seen in Venice (of course!):


(left image credit: Jacek Policinski, right image via)


These are perhaps the most elaborate pieces ever created for a humble prpose of opening doors (left image: again from Barcelona, Spain... door knocker on the right is from Malta):


(left image credit: Arnim Schulz)


And we finish with a mythical creature seen at the military museum in Vienna:


(image via; photo by Allsha Rusher)


Want to see more? Here is an excellent collection to check out.

Article by Avi Abrams, Dark Roasted Blend.


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YOUR COMMENTS::

1 Comments:

Blogger rux said...

There's a good knocker that is missing from this - the Durham Cathedral sanctuary knocker. If someone was in trouble or had committed a crime but they were able to get to this knocker they were taken in by the cathedral and allowed up to 37 days to fix their affairs under the protection of the church, with no exceptions. The system was abolished in 1624

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